😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,191 in Tbilisi versus $523 in Kegalle.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,856 in Tbilisi versus $861 in Kegalle.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,522 in Tbilisi versus $1,199 in Kegalle.
🌍Living in Tbilisi is roughly 128% more expensive than in Kegalle, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Tbilisi11% lower, Kegalle61% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.91₾28.56
$3.90LKR 1,309
179.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.19₾113
$25.07LKR 8,411
72.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.53₾22.31
$8.43LKR 2,829
1.19%
Cappuccino
$2.99₾7.81
$2.66LKR 893
12.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81₾2.12
$0.68LKR 228
19.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42₾1.09
$0.38LKR 126
10.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.16₾5.65
$2.38LKR 799
-9.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88₾7.52
$3.26LKR 1,095
-11.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.94₾5.08
$1.76LKR 591
10.23%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₾1.77
$0.57LKR 190
19.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85₾4.83
$0.85LKR 286
117.65%
Eggs
$2.53₾6.62
$2.19LKR 735
15.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53₾19.69
$13.93LKR 4,674
-45.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.26₾16.39
$4.72LKR 1,584
32.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.59₾25.09
$8.01LKR 2,687
19.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16₾3.04
$7.61LKR 2,552
-84.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64₾4.29
$1.08LKR 361
51.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88₾4.93
$5.94LKR 1,992
-68.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.23₾5.84
$1.25LKR 420
78.40%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70₾1.83
$1.14LKR 384
-38.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64₾1.68
$1.43LKR 478
-55.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18₾3.09
$1.15LKR 386
2.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70₾1.83
$0.59LKR 199
18.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97₾7.78
$9.92LKR 3,327
-70.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.43₾19.45
$12.50LKR 4,196
-40.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.54₾4.03
$2.10LKR 704
-26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28₾5.98
$2.89LKR 970
-21.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₾0.93
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$14.73₾38.54
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42₾3.71
$0.38LKR 129
273.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69₾1.81
$0.35LKR 119
97.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.27₾19.02
$0.56LKR 189
1198.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09₾2.86
$1.20LKR 404
-9.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.3K₾47.9K
$26.8KLKR 9.0M
-31.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.5K₾53.6K
$35.5KLKR 11.9M
-42.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$74.4₾195
$61.1LKR 20.5K
21.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.71₾30.63
$4.45LKR 1,492
163.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.60₾46.06
$15.25LKR 5,116
15.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.3₾158
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.29₾42.63
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51₾17.03
$3.30LKR 1,109
97.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$269₾704
$36.88LKR 12.4K
629.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154₾13.5K
$435LKR 145.9K
1085.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.1₾202
$27.37LKR 9,182
181.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.48₾114
$19.05LKR 6,391
128.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$118₾310
$70.0LKR 23.5K
69.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113₾295
$39.21LKR 13.2K
187.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$709₾1,856
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465₾1,215
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,316₾3,442
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$767₾2,007
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,492₾6,522
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,442₾3,773
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tbilisi
Kegalle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$663₾1,735
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.89
16.45
-27.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tbilisi: July 25, 2026
Last update for Kegalle: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $43.00 in Tbilisi vs $25.00 in Kegalle. Groceries flip the comparison at $204 vs $259, with Tbilisi cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Tbilisi vs Kegalle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Tbilisi or Kegalle?
Kegalle wins on cost – living expenses run 128% lower than in Tbilisi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kegalle the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Tbilisi and in Kegalle?
You'd need roughly $1,787 in Tbilisi and $785 in Kegalle to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do childcare costs compare in Tbilisi and in Kegalle?
Childcare runs $269 in Tbilisi versus $36.88 in Kegalle. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Tbilisi and in Kegalle?
Dining out is cheaper in Kegalle – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $43.00 in Tbilisi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Tbilisi or in Kegalle?
At $523 in Kegalle versus $1,191 in Tbilisi, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kegalle but tight or insufficient in Tbilisi. The gap between the two cities makes Kegalle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Tbilisi or Kegalle?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kegalle delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $523 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kegalle hard to pass up.
How safe is Tbilisi compared to Kegalle?
Safety-wise, Tbilisi and Kegalle are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kegalle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 128% less than in Tbilisi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.